The pharmaceuticals market in the Russian Federation is growing very rapidly, with six consecutive years of economic growth and a corresponding rise in living standards. But the state-run healthcare system is seriously under-funded and most Russians cannot afford the best new drugs. Moreover, the country still suffers from Soviet-style management practices; political interference remains a real risk; and the administrative and legal system is very weak. Russia thus offers genuine opportunities both for selling and testing pharmaceuticals, but these opportunities come with some substantial challenges.
